Any ideas on websites, activities, prices, etc would be great. 2 Adults, no kids. Have been thinking about doing this for a long time, and life’s too short to let it pass by. Thanks in advance !

Hi…Im getting a little break from work/(5whole days! Woo!!) next week.. and my boyfriend and I are thinking of going somewhere for like 2 days for a mini vacation..we live around Sacramento CA.. where should we go.. something 5hrs driving or less would be cool.. Just somewhere fun for a young couple.. Im 20 and hes 24…so nothing that primarily involves drinking cause I still got a couple months to go… thanks

If I can plea it there, and what the difference is from guilty

San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge of Sonoma County

It is true that San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge does not limit its boundaries to Sonoma County alone, but it would be gravely negligent of me to remain silent about its majestic existence along the north shore of San Pablo Bay just because it is shared with two other neighboring counties in northern California; Solano and Napa.

In the not-so-distant past, less than 150 years ago, San Pablo Bay was enveloped by extensive and intricate marshlands perpetually permeated by surging and ebbing tidal waves of the Pacific Ocean and was regarded as one of the largest systems on the western coast of North America. These rich and sprawling swamps provided an ideal environment for aquatic plants which in turn offered safe havens and wealthy feeding grounds for migratory wintering waterfowl such as canvasback ducks, native shore and water birds as well as an abounding assortment of other land and water species.

Spanning over approximately twenty thousand acres, San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge is just one of sixty-seven wildlife refuges in the San Francisco Bay area, that was established in 1974 to restore the delicate equilibrium of the wetlands, to secure threatened wildlife habitats and to protect millions of vulnerable and endangered indigenous species of flora and fauna as well as the countless migratory birds. To accomplish this gargantuan task by attempting to reverse the damage inflicted to the local tidal marshes by expending agricultural, commercial and industrial activities such as hydraulic gold mining in the 1850s at the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas, salt harvesting, rerouting and bleeding its waters and constructing dams, the management of the San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge had formed a partnership with the Department of the Interior, the United .States Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Wildlife Refuge System.

Sadly, only fifteen percent of this natural treasure remains unblemished but there is great hope for the future. Presently, San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge is a protected sanctuary for a thriving year-round local population of the California Clapper and Black Rails, the Salt Marsh Harvest Mice, the Song Sparrows of San Pablo and the Suisun Shrews. Furthermore, San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge is a welcoming winter resort for various species of birds especially the diving ducks, as well as eleven kinds of fish that annually cross the San Pablo Bay to their fresh water spawning grounds.

Now that we have seen what San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge does for wildlife, let us examine what it can do for you and me and I am please to inform you that it can do plenty with a capital “P.” Being open to the public every day of the year from sun up to sun down it offers: hands-on educational programs for elementary school classes; off-water fishing in the open bay and sloughs accessible by boats; hunting grounds which are subject to State and Federal regulations and seasonal restriction; hiking and walking trails; and wildlife viewing and capturing on film.

And if you wish to turn your visit to San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge into a true vacation, you will find plenty of charming, rustic and beautifully maintained local accommodations such as B&Bs and inns.

Caution Light on Ski Season Snowfalls

While scientists are dipping their thermometers in the ocean currents off South America and studying satellite weather data, are you waxing your skis or snowboard and wondering if you’re going to be able to hit the slopes this winter? How much snow can you expect for the 2009-2010 ski season? Weather forecasters are batting around the term “El Nino,” a weather pattern that usually means less of the white stuff and bleaker snow reports than in normal years. So, when should you plan that anxiously awaited ski trip to the Cascades, California’s high mountain resorts, or the pure powder slopes of Colorado and Utah? Or should you just sign up for indoor tennis lessons and forget the ski season?

The business of long-range weather forecasting isn’t perfect, but the men and women who venture into this difficult field are suggesting there should be sufficient snow. Keep in mind that some of you have been spoiled by the record snowfall amounts from last season. Figures for some regions indicate a decrease of 20 percent in snowfall for December, January, and February. Yet one forecasting group predicts a 30 percent increase in average snowfall for northern California resorts. Ironing out the variations, predictions suggest there’s going to be slightly less snowfall than in a normal year.

Wind and milder temperatures typically accompany these lesser snow amounts during El Nino years. But cold temperatures can break the cycle periodically. These colder periods often occur around the time of the full moon. Book accordingly!

The snow reports should get better by spring. The El Nino cycle is expected to weaken by March bringing more snow to ski country. In the Rockies, March is typically the month with the most snowfall. So if you’re booking your vacation late, it could be worth the wait.

This home is located in Trinidad, Humboldt County, Northern California which is in the center of the Redwoods of Northern California. The town of Trinidad is on the coast, over looking the Pacific Ocean. The house overlooks Trinidad Harbor and down the coast to Eureka. It is a three bedroom, 2 and a half bath, two story house. It rents by the night or by the week. The most restful holiday you will ever have. There are several beaches that are just a short walk away. The house has a fully equipped kitchen or you can walk to local restaurants. Towels and linens are provided. For more info www.trinidadretreats.com

Poison Ivy, Oak, And Sumac

Poison ivy, oak, and sumac are hardy weeds that can be found throughout the United States, except in Hawaii, Alaska, and some desert areas of Nevada, says Epstein. Poison ivy is found east of the Rockies, poison oak grows in the West and Southwest, and poison sumac thrives east of the Mississippi River. All three produce similar reactions, and if you’re allergic to one, you’ll probably react to the others as well. Cases of poison ivy, oak, and sumac affect 10 to 50 million people in the United States each year, Epstein says. In fact, these plants constitute the single most common cause of allergic reactions. A lucky 10 to 15 percent of Americans are tolerant of these plants, but another 10 to 15 percent are quite sensitive to them. The rest of us fall somewhere in between, with varying levels of sensitivity.

What muddies the waters is that a person’s sensitivity can change over time, even from season to season. You could be quite sensitive to poison ivy as a child and carry no allergy to the weed as an adult. “Some people will never get poison ivy, and others may get it at any age,” says William Dvorine, M.D., chief of dermatology at St. Agnes Hospital in Baltimore. “It a reaction to one of these plants can appear early in childhood, or sometimes it can appear late in life,” Dvorine says. So it’s not safe to assume that you will always be immune if you are now. But on average, says Epstein, a person’s sensitivity tends to decline with age.

Your level of sensitivity determines how bad a reaction you’ll have. Once the oil touches the skin, it starts to penetrate in minutes. With in 12 to 48 hours, a red, itchy rash appears, followed by blisters that may weep and later get crusty. The area usually heals in about ten days. Among the very sensitive population, affected areas will quickly swell up, the rash can be severe and painful, and the reaction may take up to three weeks to clear up if left untreated. For those in this category, Epstein says it’s important to see a doctor as soon as they realize they’ve been in contact with the plant. Even for people who are not that sensitive, a rash from poison ivy, oak, or sumac is no fun. So here are some tips for preventing the problem in the first place and some simple ways to treat the rash if it does occur. (While the remedies often refer to poison ivy, the steps are generally appropriate for poison oak and poison sumac as well.)

Know The Plant So You Can Avoid It : Find out what the plant looks like in your area, because appearance will vary. “Poison oak in Northern California doesn’t look like poison oak in Southern California,” says Epstein. Typically, poison ivy is a vine or a low shrub with grayish white berries and smooth, pointed leaves usually in groups of three. The reddish leaves turn green in the summer and reddel) again by autumn, according to Charlie Nardozzi, an horticulturist with the National Gardening Association in Burlington, Vermont. Poison oak is a shrub or small tree with greenish white berries and oak like leaves usually in groups of three. Poison sumac is a woody shrub found in swampy, boggy areas that has smooth-edged leaves and cream-colored berries. The leaves of poison sumac retain their reddish color and aren’t grouped in threes. Spotting the plants isn’t always easy. Poison ivy can mimic other plants, such as Virginia creeper, and can twine it self around English ivy. “I’ve tried to make myself an expert, yet I’m fooled all the time,” says Hillard H. Pearlstein, M.D., assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York. You’ll decrease your chance of being exposed to one of these plants, however, if you become familiar with their typical appearance.

Cover up : Long pants, long-sleeved shirts, boots, and gloves provide a barrier between you and the plant’s oil. This is especially important if you’re sensitive and you know you’re going to be in an area that might contain poison ivy. “My wife, who is a gardener, is exquisitely sensitive. She’s learned to cover up or suffer the consequences,” says Pearlstein.

Don’t Let Your Pets Romp in Wooded Areas : If you get a rash from poison ivy but can’t remember being near the plant, you may have your pet to thank. “A common way to get poison ivy is to pet a cat or dog that’s run through the stuff,” says Pearlstein. The oil gets on the animal’s fur and can get transferred to you. Epstein also suggests that you be careful with gardening tools, bicycle tires, golf balls, and anything else you use outside that might come in contact with the oil. Once there, the oil can remain active for a long time, so you can get poison ivy again and again without touching the plant itself if you don’t use care when handling these outdoor items and rinse them after each use.

Rinse Your Clothes Outside : If you think you’ve had a close encounter with poison ivy, the oil may be all over your clothes. If you walk inside your home without rinsing your clothes, you may transfer the oil to rugs or furniture. Water deactivates the oil, so once your clothes are soaked, they’re safe. Epstein also recommends rinsing camping, hunting, and fishing gear so you don’t start off your next vacation with a case of poison ivy. Don’t forget your shoes. “Many times, people will step on twigs or pieces of the vine and the oil will get on their shoes,” says Dvorine. At night, if you take your shoes off by grabbing the sole or the heel, you may grab on to more than you bargained for and end up with a nasty case of poison ivy.

Head For Water Fast : This should be your first step if you suspect you’ve gotten into poison ivy. Whether it’s a stream, lake, garden hose, or faucet, if you can get to water with in five to ten minutes after contact with the plant, you may be able to wash the oil off before all of it sinks in. “The sooner you get wet, the better effect you’re going to get,” says Epstein.

Carry Rubbing Alcohol With You : The oil from poison ivy isn’t absorbed in to the skin all at once, it sinks in fairly gradually. If you move quickly enough, you may be able to use rubbing alcohol to extract some oil from the skin, suggests Epstein. If you think you’ve been exposed to the weed and you’re heading back inside for the day, wash down the exposed areas with rubbing alcohol and then rinse well with water. Don’t use a cloth wipe, Epstein cautions, because that may just pick up the oil and put it somewhere else. And don’t use the alcohol near your eyes.

Cool Off The Itch : If preventive steps failed and you’ve got a rash, cool water may help ease the itch. “A cool bath or cool shower is wonderful,” says Pearlstein. Placing ice-cold compresses on the rash may also provide relief.

Smooth On Some Calamine Lotion : “People typically cover them selves with calamine lotion,” says Pearlstein. “That’s the time honored solution.” Indeed, calamine lotion can be mildly soothing and help to dry the rash. Apply it in a thin layer, however, so that the pores are not sealed.

Apply Burow’s Solution : This lesser-known product (sold without a prescription) can soothe and relieve mild rashes when put on compress-style. It’s often sold under the name Domeboro, in a tablet or powder form that you mix with water (according to package directions). Ask your pharmacist if you’re having trouble locating it.

Go Soak Yourself : Bathing in lukewarm water mixed with oatmeal or baking soda may help to dry oozing blisters and soothe irritated skin, says Epstein.

Try Hydrocortisone Creams : Sold without a prescription, these creams may offer some relief for mild rashes. Epstein says that for anything but the mildest cases, however, these over the counter creams are not strong enough to help. If you have a rash that is severe enough to take you to the doctor, he or she may prescribe more potent steroids